South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-06-17
HOW 1 WAS PROMOTED,

town, and its likely to give the locals
some trouble. So l wish you to 90 down
| rs soon az possible"
This order received one hot day in
August, on the day after tho robbery
had taken place. OF course, did not
let much time pass before was at the
>ta,ion and fairly started. Once there,
Barrytown is quaint, picturesque little
town. 1t seemed almost too dull to be
able to boast the doubtful honor of hay
ng had full-growa robbery. Still 1
ike the quiet town, for it was there that
| gained my first promotion. was met
ut the station by the local inspector, a
tout, pompous, cxcitable little man,
who looked doubtful rs to the prudence
Of the Scotland Yard authorities in
sending down such an ordinary looking
mortal as myself.
"Oh," he remarked at last; $50 it's
you, young man, is it2 l don't think
we are likely to trouble you much this
timc. The fact is, aheml we have
| caught the culprit ourselves"
merely bowed, and expressed wish
to see the prisoner; and VIC both set of
for the country Jail, perhaps mile or
so away.
Well, it certainly seemed as plain as
day to me that the unhappy wretch on
whom Inspector Muygridgs had laid
his fell grasp could easily have proved
IN alibi hrd not that worthy officer con.
tlnually interrupted him with:
Better keep that for your cxamina-
ton, my good fellow; or it I'll all be
brought up against you, my man, you
know"
told him seriously, as soon as l
could In private, that the man he had
arrested was no more guilty than 1 was;
but he simply smiled incrcdulously, and
asked who else could be the cul prit, as
this was the only really abandoned
character of the town, and it was plain
y the work of some one who knew the
place.
Besides" he added, cit isn't very
likely that any one could beat me on nv
own ground, where l know everybody,
you know; and if he didn't do it. who
dido"
With which really uuauswerablc argu-
ment he accompanied me to the scene of
the robbery, where we were shown over
the premises by the mistress of the
house.
When / saw the ground -floor window
by which access had been gained to the
house l quite agreed with the worthy
local" that it was not the work of a
''new hand" and that from the fact that
his footprints, wherever we could trace
them, showed no hesitation, but rather
thorough acquaintance with the
grounds; the culprit, whoever he was.
must have rad some opportunity Of Wis
ting the scene of operations, and prob
ably lived somewhere in the neighbor-
hood.
1t seemed that the thief had
entered the house by window in the
rear, AMI carried off small box of val
tables from the room Of the master of
the house, who had been staying at a
| friends that night. Both these facts
showed an intimate knowledge Of the
premises on the part of the culprit, and
strengthened our former belief.
We were informed that the lost casket
An ordinary tin cash box-had been
almost fi.lcl with variou, articles Of Jew
eIry, and, therefore, tho loss was rather
heavy. OF course the knowledge that
here would be good reward for the re.
covery OF tho missing property did not
nbate my zeal. Still, in spite OF INV
cagerncss TO discover the cuprit, could
make but little Of the case, and might
even have to come over to the opinion OF
tho focal" but for ono very important
fact, namely, the footprints in the gar
I dcn-bcd were all smaller than those OF
the prisoner. Now, although n man may
wear boots several sizes too large for him
on occasion, yet he can hardly walk with
comfort IN shoes an inch or 80 too short.
Very much annoyed ut my want Of sue
cess, and drcading tho chaG would be
sure to get when, compelled to give IL
mp, j should return 60 town, / was not
particularly delighted next morninr Ia
sec Mr.. Muggridgc coming up tho road
TO the house, accompanied by the editor
Of the Barrowtown Banner, who lad dc.
tcrmincd, he said, to write up the &C
/ count OF the robbery himself.
But there was no escape, and so, pre-.
pared for host Of questions, 1 was
walking slowly TO meet them when my
| eyes were caught by something bright
among the bushes by the roadside. Yes.
there could be no doubt Of il; there lay
] tho lost box, empty Of course. without
stopping, however, walked rs calmly
os possible on to tho inspector, and was
introduced to Mr, Shears, tho editor.
u was simply wonderful how obliping
had become. even, when VI Mug.
gidgc hintcd that he was pressed for
time, volunteered myself TO give Mr..